Court is back in session: NBC will bring back original 'Law & Order' for 21st season

More than a decade after it last aired, court is back in session for NBC's iconic crime drama "Law & Order."

The network announced Tuesday that it is bringing "Law & Order" back for its 21st season. When the show left the airwaves in May 2010, it was tied with “Gunsmoke” for the longest running prime-time TV drama.

The series will continue with its classic bifurcated format and will offer audiences a deeper look at "the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders," according to a press release.

“There are very few things in life that are literally dreams come true,” said creator and executive producer Dick Wolf. “This is mine.”

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A premiere date and details regarding the cast have yet to be released.

"'Law & Order' is quite simply one of the most iconic shows in television history, and the idea of continuing its legacy and partnering with Dick (Wolf) on an all-new season is nothing short of exhilarating," said Susan Rovner, chairman of entertainment content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. "This is great news for NBC as well as TV fans everywhere."

The “Law & Order” franchise lived on even after the original series was canceled, through several spinoffs including the popular “Law & Order: SVU.”

The original series was nominated for more than 50 Emmy Awards and won in 1997 for outstanding drama series.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Law & Order': The original NBC show is coming back for a new season